COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team earned a split of their series-opening doubleheader against Adams State University on Friday afternoon as they completed a 7-6 comeback win in game one before dropping the second game by a score of 8-7.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Game 1: UCCS 7, ASU 6 | Game 2: UCCS 7, ASU 8
Records: UCCS (13-26, 10-20 RMAC), ASU (5-34, 3-27 RMAC)
Location: Mountain Lion Field | Colorado Springs, Colo.
All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 67-56 all-time against Adams State.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME ONE

• Following a pair of scoreless innings to begin the series opener, the Grizzlies opened up a two-run lead against UCCS starting pitcher Autumn Kunze in the top of the third inning as Mariah Madrid came through with a two-out, two-RBI double to give Adams State a 2-0 advantage.
• The Mountain Lions bounced back in the bottom of the fourth inning with three runs of their own to jump ahead for the first time in the game, 3-2. Jacqueline Berkowitz led off the frame with a double over the left fielder's head and immediately moved to third base on a wild pitch before being brought in to score on an RBI single by Gianna Pancost. A throwing error by the Adams State shortstop would lead to two more unearned runs in the inning, with one run coming in on the miscue and another scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jennavieve Goldsworth.
• Adams State did some more two-out damage in the top of the fifth inning to regain their lead in the ballgame as Belinda Vargas banged a two-RBI double off the right center field fence that gave the Grizzlies a 4-3 advantage.
• UCCS evened the game up at four runs apiece in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jacquelynn Siefken came up with a clutch two-out RBI single that brought pinch-runner Edyn Lopez in to score. The Mountain Lions would threaten to add more runs in the inning as a walk to Hailey Busshart put runners on first and second base for Jada Montoya, who ground a ball through the right side for a base hit. Busshart would get caught on an aggressive turn around second base on Montoya's base hit, however, and was caught by the right fielder for the final out of the inning.
• In the top of the seventh inning, Adams State put together yet another two-out rally as a single by Madrid and a hit-by-pitch of Vargas put a pair of runners on for the Grizzlies. After a pitching change by UCCS that saw sophomore Kailey Bond replace Kunze inside the circle, Caylie Eiguren laced a single to left field that brought home the go-ahead run for Adams State. The ball would be bobbled in left field by Berkowitz, allowing another run to come across and score, but Bond managed to escape the inning without any further damage as the deficit remained at two runs.
• Looking to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh frame, the Mountain Lions had a fortunate start inning with Adams State making an error on a pop fly in the infield by Gutierrez to open the inning, allowing the sophomore outfielder to reach second base with nobody out. After an infield single by Berkowitz and a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third base, Pancost came through with a game-tying, two-RBI double that brought the game even at six runs. The next batter, Izzy Giroux, would hit a hard ground ball in the direction of second base that was botched by Ali Davis and ricocheted into the left center field gap, allowing pinch-runner Maddie Unrein to score from second base and clinch a 7-6 win for UCCS over the Grizzlies.

STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME ONE

• The Mountain Lions and Grizzlies each totaled ten hits in the series-opener while both teams also drew a pair of walks.
• Berkowitz had a strong game out of the second spot in the lineup, going 3-for-4 with a double. Pancost was also on her game in the first game of the day, posting a 2-for-4 line at the plate with a double and three RBIs.
• Siefken also had a multi-hit game for the Mountain Lions, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Kunze pitched 6.2 innings for the Mountain Lions, surrendering six earned runs while striking out five batters. Bond (5-6) earned the win after recording the final out in the top of the seventh inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME TWO

• For a second straight game, Adams State found themselves on the scoreboard first as Vargas opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI single up the middle that gave the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead. ASU continued to add on in the opening frame against UCCS starter Kailey Bond, with Makayla Veglia punching an RBI single to center field and extending the Grizzles advantage to 2-0.
• In the home half of the first inning, UCCS got one of the runs back as Pancost continued her strong day with a solo home run over the left center field fence. The freshman's first collegiate home run cut the Mountain Lion deficit to 2-1 after one full inning of play.
• Following three scoreless innings, Adams State added to their slim lead in the top of the fifth inning with a two-run home run off the bat of Vargas making it a 4-1 ballgame in favor of the Grizzlies.
• The Mountain Lions once again clawed back in the bottom half of the fifth inning as Pancost came through with a two-RBI single up the middle that brought UCCS back within a run, 4-3.
• With their lead back down to just a run, Adams State turned to Vargas once again as she capped a three-run inning with a two-run shot to left center field that gave the Grizzlies a four-run cushion, 7-3. After a scoreless inning by the Mountain Lions in the bottom of the sixth frame, Adams State added another insurance run to their tally with a solo home run by Grace Hendricksen pushing their lead to 8-3.
• Now trailing by five runs, UCCS had a promising start to the bottom of the seventh inning as the first four batters in the frame all reached base, bringing in one run and setting up the Mountain Lions with a base-loaded situation with nobody out in the inning. Siefken would take the first crack at making an even larger dent in the deficit but wound up grounding into an RBI fielder's choice for the first out of the inning. After a strikeout from Hailey Busshart, Lexi Wagner made a pinch-hit appearance off the bench and laced a two-RBI single to right field that brought UCCS within a run at 8-7. A wild pitch would move Wagner into scoring position for Gutierrez, but after a long battle at the plate, she was retired on a ground ball back to the pitcher for the third out of the inning.

STATS FROM THE GAME | GAME TWO

• The Mountain Lions tallied nine hits in game two of the doubleheader, including multi-hit games from Pancost and Giroux.
• Pancost had another strong game, going 2-for-3 with her first home run of the season and three more RBIs.
• Gutierrez stole her team-leading 12^th base of the season and remains perfect on stolen base attempts. Sydney King also swiped her first bag of the season as a pinch runner in the seventh inning.
• Bond (5-7) took the loss after she surrendered six runs (five earned) across 5.1 innings pitched. The sophomore pitcher struck out five hitters while allowing six hits and issuing four walks.
• Mackenzie Rutkoff entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of Bond and went on to allow two earned runs across 1.2 innings pitched while striking out two batters.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Pancost put together a huge day begin the series, going 4-for-7 at the plate with a double, a home run, and six runs batted in.

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will conclude their series against the Grizzlies tomorrow with a doubleheader set for 11 a.m. from Mountain Lion Field.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.  
 
 
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